A biological state monitoring system (100) for monitoring a biological state of a subject on a bed (BD) over a predetermined monitoring period, includes: at least one load detector (11, 12, 13, 14) configured to detect a load of the subject on the bed; and a respiratory rate estimating unit (34) configured to successively obtain and output estimated values of a respiratory rate of the subject, based on a temporal variation of a detection value of the load detector. The monitoring period includes a body motion period in which the subject has a body motion, and a resting period in which the subject merely performs a respiration. In a case that the monitoring period shifts from a first resting period to the body motion period and then from the body motion period to a second resting period, the respiratory rate estimating unit outputs, in the body motion period and a predetermined period starting from the shifting from the body motion period to the second resting period, a last estimated value which is the latest among the estimated values obtained successively in the first resting period.

A method of monitoring respiration with an acoustic measurement device, the acoustic measurement device having a sound transducer, the sound transducer configured to measure sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea, the method includes correlating the measured sound into a measurement of tidal volume and generating at least one from the group consisting of an alert and an alarm if the measured tidal volume falls outside of a predetermined range.

A method of monitoring respiration with an acoustic measurement device, the acoustic measurement device having a sound transducer, the sound transducer configured to measure sound associated with airflow through a mammalian trachea, the method includes correlating the measured sound into a measurement of tidal volume and generating at least one from the group consisting of an alert and an alarm if the measured tidal volume falls outside of a predetermined range.

A method includes receiving motion data from at least one sensor of a wearable device worn by a user. The method further includes receiving audio data from at least one sensor of the wearable device, the audio data representative of sounds emanating from the user's respiratory system. The method further includes comparing the motion data to a motion data criteria. The method further includes comparing the audio data an audio data criteria. The method further includes determining, based on the comparison of the motion data to the motion data criteria and the comparison of the audio data to the audio data criteria, whether the user has coughed.

A detection device includes a substrate, wherein the substrate is provided with a positive electrode and a negative electrode, an electric field generating circuit that supplies a current or voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to generate an electric field from a first side of the substrate, a guard electrode that is located farther from the first surface than the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and that faces at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode via an insulator, a potential adjustment circuit that makes i) the potential applied to the electrode corresponding to the guard electrode among the positive electrode and the negative electrode and ii) the potential of the guard electrode the same, and a semiconductor element that outputs an electric field intensity detection value corresponding to the electric field intensity between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

A detection device includes a substrate, wherein the substrate is provided with a positive electrode and a negative electrode, an electric field generating circuit that supplies a current or voltage between the positive electrode and the negative electrode to generate an electric field from a first side of the substrate, a guard electrode that is located farther from the first surface than the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and that faces at least one of the positive electrode and the negative electrode via an insulator, a potential adjustment circuit that makes i) the potential applied to the electrode corresponding to the guard electrode among the positive electrode and the negative electrode and ii) the potential of the guard electrode the same, and a semiconductor element that outputs an electric field intensity detection value corresponding to the electric field intensity between the positive electrode and the negative electrode.

A method and apparatus for determining a respiration state on the basis of a plurality of biological indicators calculated using bio-signals. The method for determining a respiration state on the basis of a plurality of biological indicators calculated using bio-signals includes collecting a photoplethysmography (PPG) signal measured by a PPG sensor and a cutaneous electric signal measured by an electrodermal activity (EDA) sensor; analyzing the collected PPG signal and cutaneous electric signal and calculating a plurality of biological indicators including a respiration rate; and comprehensively evaluating the plurality of biological indicators to determine a user's respiration state.

A detection apparatus and a method are provided for detecting a respiratory movement of a patient. The detection apparatus includes at least two metallic U-shaped signal coupling elements that are interleaved so that between the signal coupling elements arises at least one coupling point at which a signal may be transferred between the two signal coupling elements. Analysis electronics are configured to detect a change in a received signal produced in a second of the signal coupling elements that is acting as a receiver in the near-field region of the first signal coupling elements as a result of a signal given for one of the signal coupling elements that is acting as a transmitter being coupled into the second of the signal coupling elements, which change indicates the respiratory movement.

A detection apparatus and a method are provided for detecting a respiratory movement of a patient. The detection apparatus includes at least two metallic U-shaped signal coupling elements that are interleaved so that between the signal coupling elements arises at least one coupling point at which a signal may be transferred between the two signal coupling elements. Analysis electronics are configured to detect a change in a received signal produced in a second of the signal coupling elements that is acting as a receiver in the near-field region of the first signal coupling elements as a result of a signal given for one of the signal coupling elements that is acting as a transmitter being coupled into the second of the signal coupling elements, which change indicates the respiratory movement.

One or more radar sensors can be used to monitor patients in a variety of different environments and embodiments. In one embodiment, radar sensors can be used to monitor a patient's breathing, including monitoring of tidal volume, chest expansion distance, breathing rate, etc. In another embodiment, a patient position can be monitored in a patient bed, which can be used as feedback for control of bladders of a patient bed. Additional embodiments are described herein.